November 5th at Black Sheep: Open Mic + FLQ (Canada)

Posted on October 29, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

It is time for the next open mic night at Black Sheep – we are planning our next one exactly one week from today on Sunday, November 5th. This open mic will be a little bit different as well because we have a touring act on board and that is the band FLQ from Toronto. Stream some of their music on the player below to find out what they are all about. FLQ will go on right in the middle of the open mic. We have a few slots taken, and plenty left open. Here is what the schedule is looking like as of right now:

10:15-10:30 – (open)

10:00-10:15 – (open)

9:45-10:00 – (open)

9:30-9:45 – (open)

8:45-9:30 – *FLQ*

8:30-8:45 – Hannah Songer

8:15-8:30 – (open)

8:00-8:15 – Kate Ridge

7:45-8:00 – (open)

7:30-7:45 – Kristin Walker

7:15-7:30 – Whitney Devine

7:00-7:15 – (open)

If you would like to claim a 15 minute slot, go ahead and post in the facebook event or send us an email to blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com! Admission for this show is sliding scale $1-5. Also check out our shows page for a look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep in the next few months.

The Illinois Times: Best of Springfield 2017 (Results)

Posted on October 28, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

On Thursday The Illinois Times released the results for their annual “Best Of Springfield” poll, highlighting local businesses, food, musicians, and people.

This year Black Sheep was in the running for Best Small Music Venue, which we unfortunately did not win. However Southtown did get a mention in the staff picks this year as “Best Tenacious Upstarts.” From that section:

At the corner of 11th Street and S. Grand stands a veritable Mecca of youthful D.I.Y. culture, including all-ages music venue Black Sheep, Dumb Records, Southtown Sound Recording Studio, Boof City Skate Shop and a skateboard ramp. That ramp, Skank Skates, is now celebrating its 30th year and remains the cornerstone of a group of like-minded businesses which have put Springfield on the map nationally and internationally, with independent musicians from all over traveling to play the Black Sheep’s stage and then marveling at the surrounding environs. Ironically, waxing and waning local support can make daily survival a perpetual struggle but that makes the dogged dedication of the young owners and operators of these businesses even more heroic.

Thank you to the staff of Illinois Times for giving us that mention! Check out the rest of the results on the Illinois Times website, or pick up a copy of this week’s issue at various local businesses around town. We used to get the magazine inside Dumb Records but they stopped delivering it to us for some reason.

October 31st at Black Sheep: Starlorde, Nectar, Eric Marvel, Felix

Posted on October 28, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

We are terrible for not officially announcing our Halloween show this year until now. Yes, of course there will be a lot of Halloween-y things going on in town tonight including Dumb Records participating in the Halloween parade downtown and also Hobgob at Bar None. The 31st this year falls on Tuesday night, and we are having a nice Halloween show for all of you who are looking for something to do the night of Halloween! Apparently this will be the last ever Starlorde show or something – stream their music one last time on the player below before it is lost in time. We also have the hit pop group Nectar coming from across the pond in Champaign-Urbana. Then before that is the new-wave electro-tunes from Eric Marvel. Opening things up is “Felix”?

This show will start at 7:00 pm. Admission is $5 or $3 if you are wearing a costume. Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep in the coming months (we are working on it)!

Tonight at Downtown Springfield: Halloween Parade Featuring Livin’ Thing + Pineapple RNR

Posted on October 28, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

paradewebflier

Tonight’s a big night in Springfield music history! Tonight we are helping orchestrate the first ever moving show on wheels – bands Livin’ Thing and Pineapple RNR from St. Louis will be performing on a moving Dumb Records float as a part of the first ever Downtown Springfield Halloween Parade, organized by The Parent Place. Check out some of Pineapple RNR’s music below – the band features members of other popular St. Louis bands Lumpy & The Dumpers, The Wad, and Fried E.M. The parade tonight of course is free – for more info on the route downtown go to The Parent Place’s facebook event. There will be plenty of candy of course and free tattoos. The parade route kicks off downtown at 7:30 and things will likely go until 8:30 or 9:00.

We are still looking for volunteers in possibly walking with us and also helping decorate our float! If anyone is interested in helping us decorate, we will be outside of Dumb Records today starting at 2:30 pm. Find a facebook event for all of this right here. The weather forecast says it’s going to be COLD, but just be sure to bring a jacket!

Today on Black Sheep Radio: Bridgett Burke (The Parent Place)

Posted on October 27, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

It’s the weekend! Today is Friday so The Black Sheep Radio Show will be back on air from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA fm after a small Small Man break last week. We do have a special guest Bridgett Burke – who is executive director of The Parent Place here in Springfield. Why do we have Bridgett coming in to talk to us? Because she is organizing the first ever downtown Springfield Halloween Parade tomorrow that Dumb Records is participating in! Bands Livin’ Thing and Pineapple RNR will be playing on our big green elephant float. We’ll be talking to Bridgett about what to expect in the parade tomorrow, as well as playing plenty of local music hits.

The Black Sheep Radio Show airs today and every Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on 88.3 WQNA FM. Tune in on your radio dial or online at wqna.net. Also check out our radio page for a few downloadable episodes of the past.

Livin’ Thing: “The Godhead Hates Him”

Posted on October 24, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Today we bring you a hot new track from Springfield’s own Livin’ Thing – we just announced yesterday that the band will be releasing a 7″ next month along with a release show at our venue on Sunday, November 19th. The 7″ is called The Godhead EP and is coming out on Champaign/Urbana-based label Rat King Records. Today the title track off of that release “The Godhead Hates Him” debuted on New Noise Magazine online. You can check the new song out right here. From the article:

New Noise Magazine is bringing “The Godhead Hates Him” by Livin Thing. Livin’ Thing’s brand of punk rock is blown out and goofy. With dueling guitar leads through out songs and the plodding of the bass and drums, the band rallies around the raspy vocal approach. “The Godhead Hates Him” showcases all the highlights of this group, effectively energetic withoutout over doing it. The song comes off of the upcoming vinyl release, The Godhead, out 11/19 via Rat King Records.

November 19th at Black Sheep: Livin’ Thing Record Release Show, Substance, Undone, Spell Breaker

Posted on October 23, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Whoops, we are sorry that we have missed a few days bringing you some fresh content on our website! Tonight we are hitting it hard with a special announcement with another record release show from a local group – this time it’s hardcore rock n’ roll outfit Livin’ Thing. Livin’ Thing will be releasing a 7″ record for this show on Sunday, November 19th at Black Sheep. We are truly excited for this band and their journey. More info on the 7″ will be coming later this week. Also on the bill for this one and on tour is the Houston, Texas punk band Substance. They performed inside Dumb Records this past Dumb Fest in June. Check out some of Substance’s music streaming on the player below. We have a couple of great local openers on this one too including the fast punk band Undone. Opening things up is Spell Breaker.

This show will start at 7:00 pm and admission is $5. Check out a facebook event for the show right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at everything coming up these next few months at Black Sheep.

Tours: Small Man

Posted on October 15, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

Earlier this past summer a new project from both Springfield and Tornonto, Canada called “Small Man” was born and a demo was released under Prescience Tapes. This week this “Small Man” band will be performing their first ever shows, and even going on a week long tour. Unfortunately none of these shows are in Springfield or anywhere too close! This special international lineup of The Small Man features members of bands Mace, Asthma, Soap Scum, and Baghead (with members from Springfield, Toronto, and Hattiesburg). Here is what cities they will be stopping through starting on Tuesday:

10.17 – Kansas City, MO
10.18 – Oklahoma City, OK
10.19 – Denton, TX
10.20 – Hattiesburg, MS
10.21 – Birmingham, AL
10.22 – Lexington, KY

The last date in Lexington, Kentucky is Dispuppy Fest where other Springfield bands Livin’ Thing and Pryss will also be performing. Good luck to the Small Man out there!

Black Sheep Battle of The Bands Tonight

Posted on October 14, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

justthebattle_lineup

Tonight! It’s our annual Black Sheep Battle of the Bands, which usually takes place in July but here we are in October. This event is incredibly important for us in welcoming a new generation of bands and musicians to our space. Tonight we have six whole acts that are completely new to the Black Sheep stage, starting at 6:00 pm. Here are those bands along with a projected schedule for the night:

9:40 – Puff Puff Poseidon
8:55 – Master Bastard
8:20 – Coop De Grace
7:40 – Rockford
7:00 – 13LISS
6:30 – Hannah Songer
6:00 – Niko Robledo

*note set times may not be exact!

There you have it – a few full bands and a few solo projects all of which have not yet performed at Black Sheep. This again all starts tonight at Black Sheep at 6:00 pm. Admission is $5 for those not playing. Also our panel of judges tonight includes Kyle Noonan (Southtown Sound), Jessica Knight, Nick Demarco (Looming), and DJ Tariq! Two prizes will be awarded tonight to two winning acts – a crowd voted winner will receive a slot on our Black Sheep Holiday Show happening later on in December. The winner from the judges panel will receive a free recorded demo at Southtown Sound.

Find a facebook event for tonight right here. Also check out our shows page for a good look at everything else coming up this fall at Black Sheep.

October 28th Downtown Springfield Halloween Parade: Livin’ Thing & Pineapple RNR Play on Moving Dumb Records Elephant Float

Posted on October 10, 2017 by blacksheepspringfield

After our first ever show for plants was a huge success last night, we are continuing to embark on turning your typical rock n’ roll show inside out and break all of the standard rules on what a “gig” truly is. Tonight we are announcing the first ever MOVING GIG with bands Livin’ Thing and Pineapple Rock N’ Roll from St. Louis. Bands will be performing on a moving float on Saturday, October 28th as part of the first ever downtown Springfield Halloween Parade. Pineapple RNR feature members of Lumpy & The Dumpers, The Wad, and more. Check out some of their music below. The float will be powered by (or pulled by) Milestshirts, and will also be followed by some representation from Boof City Skate Shop. You can maybe expect some music thrown in there from Nighthawk or Gary & The Omnichords. Flier done by Connor, age 9.

Thank you to The Parent Place for allowing us this opportunity. You can find a facebook event for their downtown Halloween Parade right here. The parade will be going from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on 5th and 6th streets downtown. There will be candy, and we will be giving out plenty of Dumb Records tattoos. Find our facebook event for this moving show right here. That same night is also Hobgob at Bar None – starting at 9:00 pm.